2020年配信
泣きたい私は猫をかぶる
スタジオコロリド
ファンタジー青春学園
2020年6月18日〜Netflixにて全世界独占配信
A Whisker Away is Studio Colorido's second feature film following Penguin Highway, a coming-of-age fantasy released worldwide exclusively on Netflix on June 18, 2020, and known in Japan by its nickname "Naki Neko." The story follows Miyo Sasaki, a cheerful 14-year-old whose unpredictable, read-the-room-never behavior has earned her the nickname "Muge" (a play on words meaning roughly "boundless enigma") from her friends. She's secretly in love with her classmate Kento Hinode, though he barely notices her. One night at a summer festival, Muge receives a mask from a talking cat spirit called the Mask Seller — a mask that turns her into a cat whenever she wears it. She begins using it to get closer to Kento in cat form, but the Mask Seller warns her that if she keeps the mask on too long, she'll never be able to return to being human again — setting up a story that pulls Muge between her time as a cat and her sense of who she really is as herself. The film was directed by Junichi Sato (Ojamajo Doremi) and rising talent Tomotaka Shibayama, written by Mari Okada (Anohana), and won the Excellence Award in the Animation Division at the 24th Japan Media Arts Festival.
📝 Highlights
👥 Characters
💫 Foreshadowing & Quotes
❓ FAQ
🌟 Featured Comments
📝 Highlights & Appeal Light spoilers
01① Studio Colorido's second feature film
This is Studio Colorido's second feature-length film, following Penguin Highway, which won the Japan Academy Award for Excellence in Animation Film.
02② The heroine known by her nickname "Muge"
Miyo, a 14-year-old whose unpredictable behavior constantly surprises those around her, is nicknamed "Muge" by her friends — short for "boundless enigma."
03③ A mask that turns her into a cat, and a mysterious Mask Seller
At a summer festival, Muge meets the Mask Seller, who gives her a mask that transforms her into a cat. From that night on, she begins approaching Kento in her cat form, nicknamed "Taro."
04④ A ticking clock: "you may never return"
The Mask Seller warns Muge that if she stays in cat form too long, she'll never be able to return to being human — leaving her torn between the comfort of life as a cat and her identity as herself.
05⑤ Mari Okada's true-to-life portrayal of adolescence
Screenwriter Mari Okada, known for Anohana, brings a delicate, realistic portrayal of teenage emotions to the film.
06⑥ Theme songs by Yorushika, including "Ghost in the Flower"
Yorushika wrote all three of the film's songs: the theme "Hana ni Bourei" (Ghost in the Flower), the insert song "Yakou," and the ending song "Usotsuki."
07⑦ Released worldwide exclusively on Netflix in June 2020
Originally planned for a theatrical release, the film's distribution plan changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it premiered worldwide exclusively on Netflix on June 18, 2020.
08⑧ Won the Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award
The film received significant critical recognition in Japan, including the Excellence Award in the Animation Division at the 24th Japan Media Arts Festival.
💡 Key Points & Predictions Some spoilers
The heart of the story lies in how Muge, who can only get close to Kento in cat form, comes to terms with her human self. As the Mask Seller's warning about a point of no return looms closer, the biggest question is what choice Muge ultimately makes.
🧾 Story So Far Contains spoilers
Miyo, a 14-year-old nicknamed "Muge" for her unpredictable behavior, has a crush on her classmate Kento but can't bring herself to tell him. One night at a summer festival, she meets the talking Mask Seller and receives a mask that turns her into a cat. As "Taro" the cat, she begins spending time close to Kento — and her heart starts to waver between her human self and her time as a cat.
✅ Recommended Viewing Points
Through its fantasy premise of turning into a cat, the film carefully depicts the very adolescent struggle of figuring out who you really are. Recommended for anyone who wants Mari Okada's signature delicate emotional writing alongside the atmospheric theme songs by Yorushika.
👀 Trivia & Fun Facts
The film uses various locations in the city of Tokoname as its real-world setting. In August 2020, a special screening was held there for local elementary and junior high school students. Toho had originally planned a theatrical release on June 5, 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release plan changed to a worldwide exclusive premiere on Netflix instead.
Miyo Sasaki / Muge / Taro (as a cat) (CV: Mirai Shida)
The film's protagonist, a 14-year-old nicknamed "Muge" for her unpredictable behavior. When she puts on the cat mask, she transforms into a cat named "Taro."
Kento Hinode (CV: Natsuki Hanae)
Miyo's high-achieving classmate. Having been teased by his older sister growing up, he avoids drawing attention to himself — and dotes on cat-form Muge, whom he calls "Taro."
The Mask Seller (CV: Koichi Yamadera)
A mysterious, talking cat-spirit mask seller who appears before Muge at a summer festival — the one who gives her the mask that turns her into a cat.
Kusunoki-sensei (CV: Hiroaki Ogi)
Muge's homeroom teacher. His casting came about because one of the film's staff members was a huge fan of comedian Hiroaki Ogi.
Yoriko Fukase (CV: Nanako Mori)
Muge's cheerful, energetic best friend, who's always a little worried about Muge's unpredictable behavior.
Yoji Sasaki (CV: Shimpo Chiba)
Muge's father, who divorced her mother when Muge was ten and now lives with his fiancée Kaoru.
Kaoru Mizutani (CV: Ayako Kawasumi)
Yoji's fiancée, who runs a cafe along the pottery walk. She lives with the Sasaki family alongside her cat Kinako and hopes to grow closer to Muge.
Masamichi Isami (CV: Kento Ono)
A classmate of Muge's, one of the main supporting characters interacting with Miyo and Yoriko in their school life.
Miki Saito (CV: Sayaka Ohara)
Kento's older sister, who frequently teased him growing up — a big part of why he now avoids drawing attention to himself.
Tomoya Sakaguchi (CV: Daisuke Namikawa)
An adult character connected to the story, adding depth to the web of relationships around Muge and her friends.
💫 Unresolved Foreshadowing Contains spoilers
- The Mask Seller's warning that Muge may never return to being human if she keeps the mask on is the story's central thread, waiting to pay off by the end.
- Kento's memories of his childhood dog, also named Taro, and the significance of him giving cat-Muge the same name, is planted as an early hint.
- Muge's complicated, hard-to-open-up relationship with her father's fiancée Kaoru also develops alongside the main plot.
💌 Predicted Viral Quotes for Next Season
"If you don't take the mask off, you may never be able to return to being human." — The Mask Seller's warning to Muge, the thread running through the entire film.
"That's just how I am — I'm Muge." — A line where Miyo embraces her own nickname, symbolizing who she is.
"Good boy, Taro." — Kento's gentle words to cat-form Muge, marking a moment where the two grow closer.
What kind of anime is “A Whisker Away”?
A Whisker Away is Studio Colorido's second feature film following Penguin Highway, a coming-of-age fantasy released worldwide exclusively on Netflix on June 18, 2020, and known in Japan by its nickna…
What are the theme songs (OP/ED) of “A Whisker Away”?
You can find the theme songs of “A Whisker Away” ranked by view count in the anime song ranking on the homepage. Each song’s page also shows a chart of its view-count history.
How can I rate or comment on “A Whisker Away”?
Use the rating section on the left (PC) or top (mobile) to give a star rating (out of 10) or a like. You can also share your thoughts in the comment box at the bottom of the page. A nickname is optional.
